Chapter Text
September 8th - Greenwich, CT
Detective Cortez was on desk duty.
He didn't care for it.
It was boring. Mostly sitting at the front desk to speak to whatever civilians came into the station to report something or complain in person. Always low priority matters: noise complaints, illegal fireworks, people not cleaning up after their dogs…
It wasn't like he was one of the younger officers who had signed up for an exciting job fighting crime or to gain a position of power. He had been at this for around ten years now; he knew that it took all types to keep everything running smoothly, so he just sorted himself into whatever role was needed at the time. And today was desk duty.
He was alone at the moment. He technically shouldn't be per procedure, but it was only for a few minutes. Officer Lee was out getting their lunch while Officer O'Brien was in the bathroom. What were the odds anything important would happen on a weekday morning in an empty station?
The front doors opened automatically as a younger man entered the lobby. He wore tan pants, a blue button up shirt, and a brown jacket with some patches on the shoulders. He appeared in his mid 20s, short brown hair, square glasses, and a grim look on his face. He held a handful of papers in his hand. Probably here to protest a parking ticket if Cortez had to guess.
“Hello sir, what can I do for you?” Cortez said half heartedly.
“I'm here to turn myself in.”
Cortez froze for a moment. This was rare… especially unannounced. People who were surrendering usually called to state their intent first.
“Pardon?”
“I'm here to turn myself in.” He repeated, emotionless. He set the papers on the counter between them and pushed them towards him.
A sealed envelope. What appeared to be a folder of files. And a photo-id badge.
Jacob Hopkins
Behavioral Therapist
Reality Check Youth Correctional Facility
“What is your warrant for?”
“There isn't one.” Hopkins answered. “I never got caught.”
“... and what did you do?”
“Multiple rapes. Multiple assaults. Destruction of evidence. Child abuse. Embezzlement. Tax fraud. Exploiting my position…” Hopkins started to list, remaining emotionless. Cortez was stunned… slowly standing up and making sure his sidearm was secured. Was this guy crazy? “Everything is spelled out in my written confession.” He pointed to the envelope. “As well as documentation concerning the victims and evidence of what I've done.” He pointed at the files.
“Alright, hands in the air.” Cortez told him as he came around the counter carefully. He'd restrain this man for safety first and ask more questions afterwards. Hopkins complied, and Cortez cuffed him and patted him down for weapons as O'brien returned from the restroom.
“Joe! What's going on?” He questioned as he saw him patting Hopkins down.
“You wouldn't believe it. Guy just walked in and confessed to dozens of felonies. Even brought his own evidence.”
“The fuck?” O'brien opened the file and flipped through the pages, mostly documents concerning patients at the correctional facility from his badge. “Why?” He asked aloud, not expecting an answer from either his co-worker or the suspect.
“Because I was cursed to confess my crimes by The Good Witch Azura.”
Hopkins answered like that was the most natural thing in the world to say.
And then he seized, his face contorted, body going rigid. Cortez was barely able to hold Hopkins up as he stopped supporting his own weight. Was this a seizure? A heart attack?
“Call medic!” Cortez barked at his younger co-worker who quickly complied as Cortez lowered Hopkins down on his side and tried to check his vitals. His heartbeat was incredibly rapid, he gasped for air, flailed briefly, and then went limp. His pulse had stopped.
Jacob Hopkins, heart attack
Writes a confession for all his crimes and assembles all evidence necessary to identify and compensate his victims. He takes these to the nearest police station and turns himself in, explaining that he is doing so because he had been cursed by ‘The Good Witch Azura’. He dies of a heart attack once he does so.
August 31st - Gravesfield, CT
A black notebook fell from the sky…